The 15 Best Mattresses in a Box, According to People Who Have Slept on Them

Sleep Improvement: 19/20
Price: 17/20
Materials: 18/20
Firmness: 19/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 93/100

While Casper wasn’t the first boxed mattress on the market, it’s certainly become one of the most popular—and it makes sense. Billed as a mattress for sleepers who want both support and cooling, the original model uses softer foam under your shoulders to relieve pressure and keep you comfortable and firmer foam under your hips and core for a little extra support and proper spine alignment. Casper mattresses also use open-cell foams that have tiny pores to let excess hot air escape (for a cooler sleep). Casper devotee Caroline writes, “It’s great for co-sleeping—I barely notice when my husband gets in and out of bed.” She adds, though, that “It's definitely firm and thus, might not be great for side-sleeping.” (Noted.) If the price is more than you’re hoping to spend, the brand also has a more affordable line called Element.

• Mattress Materials: Memory foam, polyurethane foam and individually encased springs
• Mattress Thickness: 11 inches
• Return Policy: Shipping and returns are free. Plus, youll get a 100-night trial, and if you opt to send it back, many returned mattresses will be donated to charity.

Sleep improvement: 11/20
Price: 18/20
Materials: 14/20
Firmness: 16/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 77/100

It’s hard to beat a mattress that starts at $130. Linenspa’s model features an innerspring-memory foam hybrid, which makes it springy without feeling stiff or squishy, and it’s only 8 inches thick, so you can easily add a topper without fighting to put on a fitted sheet. Executive Editor Candace Davison calls it “like a high-end version of your college dorm mattress,” but also lauds Amazon’s speedy, efficient and free shipping and Linenspa’s compact packaging, which made it easy to transport. That said, Davison warns that restless sleepers might want to stay away. “If you toss and turn, Linenspa’s mattress may not be cushy and supportive enough for you (and to that end, you may want to spring for a mattress topper),” she says. “It’s pretty neutral in terms of its impact on your sleep—it wasn’t so stiff that it’d deter sleep, but it wasn’t the most luxurious mattress I’ve ever tried.”

• Mattress Materials: Polyurethane foam and innerspring memory foam
• Mattress Thickness: 8 inches
• Return Policy: This mattress is sold and fulfilled by Amazon, so you can return it within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. However, if the reason for the return is *not* a result of an Amazon error, you’ll have to cover the cost of return shipping.

Sleep Improvement: 19/20
Price: 17/20
Materials: 18/20
Firmness: 17/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 91/100

Another hybrid mattress, DreamCloud's version combines layers of foam and coils. Its gel-infused memory foam provides you with heat distribution and support that contours to your body, and it's organized into five comfort zones with "BestRest" Coils for extra support where you need it most. Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint notes, “This mattress has a super plush topper that makes the fairly springy mattress below extra cushy, for back, stomach and side-sleepers alike.”

But that’s not all: “The best thing is probably how little motion transfer other sleepers experience in the bed. I'm a noted tosser-and-turner, and my husband noticed absolutely no movement, even with me right beside him in bed. Highly recommended for couples with different bedtimes and sleep needs...you really don't annoy each other," Quint says.

• Mattress Materials: Gel memory foam, individually encased coils and cashmere
• Mattress Thickness: 14 inches
• Return Policy: DreamCloud offers a generous 365-night trial period and your purchase is eligible for a free return within 365 days of purchase. Plus, returned mattresses are donated and repurposed through local organizations within your community.

Sleep Improvement: 19/20
Price: 18/20
Materials: 17/20
Firmness: 17/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 91/100

Tester Kara Cuzzone was skeptical about sleeping on a mattress that arrived in a small-ish box, but says, after experiencing Nectar’s mattress, “I’m a total bed-in-a-box convert now,” according to a PureWow100 review. The mattress’s five layers are designed to relieve common pressure points, while its gel memory foam ensures that body heat gets distributed evenly throughout (a total game-changer for hot sleepers). Cuzzone says, “After a few nights of sleeping on the soft-yet-supportive layers of memory foam, I was impressed. My middle back pain was gone, and I noticed that I fell asleep in a few minutes flat instead of tossing and turning like I was used to.”

In fact, her only real complaint is about Nectar’s packaging. “It comes encased in a ton of plastic, which doesn’t exactly feel eco-friendly. But plastic is the reason the brand is able to package it so compactly, so it seems kind of unavoidable when it comes to the whole bed-in-a-box thing,” she reasons.

• Mattress Materials: Gel memory foam, polyfoam and polyethylene
• Mattress Thickness: 12 inches
• Return Policy: All of Nectar's mattresses come with a 365-day trial period and offer free in-home returns that are processed within 24 hours.

Sleep Improvement: 19/20
Price: 17/20
Materials: 18/20
Firmness: 17/20
Shipping and Returns: 19/20
TOTAL: 90/100

This innovative mattress is Helix’s best seller for a reason: It combines all the hybrid qualities side sleepers love—from pressure-relieving memory foam to body-cradling coils—with a quilted cooling top that was designed to increase airflow and pull heat away from the body. “We went with this model for two reasons: 1) We wanted a hybrid mattress. I am a hot sleeper, I wanted to avoid full foam... So far, temperature control feels great. 2) We wanted something soft, but not a sinker,” writes Helix user Robert D. “This mattress has more than fulfilled that. You get good resistance and support ... I have not woken up with back pain since the day we got it.” Not to mention, it also comes with a 100-day trial period, so if you’re unhappy with your mattress, you can return it after 30 days for a full refund (and the brand will cover any costs associated with the pickup or return process).

• Mattress Materials: Memory foam, copper gel foam, individually wrapped coils and a quilted pillow top.
• Mattress Thickness: 13.5 inches
• Return Policy: Helix offers a 100-night trial period; if, after the first 30 days you are unhappy with your mattress, you can return it for a full refund (and the brand willl cover shipping and pick-up costs if you decide to return the mattress within the trial period).

Sleep Improvement: 18/20
Price: 20/20
Materials: 16/20
Firmness: 17/20
Shipping and Returns: 19/20
TOTAL: 90/100

You know that saying, ‘You get what you pay for?’ Yeah, that really doesn’t seem to be the case with this mattress, which exceeds expectations on every level. One Signature Sleep shopper told us of this pick: “I had no idea I was buying the best mattress I’ve ever slept on.” Independently encased coils provide equal weight distribution by contouring to the curves of your body and relieving pressure points, while a layer of high-density foam at the top and bottom of this mattress minimizes the feeling of the coils. Plus, it's reversible, so you can flip and rotate it to even out the wear and make it last for years to come. The buyer raves: “I’ve recommended this mattress to, like, five friends and they’re all as happy with it as I am.”

• Mattress Materials: Memory foam, convoluted foam and independently encased coils
• Mattress Thickness: 8 inches
• Return Policy: This mattress is sold and fulfilled by Amazon, so you can return it within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. However, if the reason for the return is *not* a result of an Amazon error, you’ll have to cover the cost of return shipping.

Sleep Improvement: 19/20
Price: 18/20
Materials: 17/20
Firmness: 18/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 92/100

Need something firm but not too firm? You've come to the right place. In a PureWow100 review, Davison says, "The Brick isn’t nearly as firm as top competitor Lucid’s Firm-Feel memory foam mattress, which was so stiff I’d wake up in the middle of the night with an aching hip if I slept on my side at all."

This one uses layers of soft, supportive foam, individually wrapped coils that minimize motion transfer and a firm top layer that can support aches and pains. The result? A medium-firm feel that offers support without sacrificing squish. Davison explains, "[The] medium-firm to firm-level can be just right for providing support without being stiff. Perhaps a better name for The Brick would be The Goldilocks."

• Mattress Materials: Copper gel-infused memory foam, high-density foam and individually wrapped coils
• Mattress Thickness: 12 inches
• Return Policy: Allswell offers a 100-night trial (limited to one per household per year) in case The Brick is too firm.

Sleep Improvement: 20/20
Price: 17/20
Materials: 19/20
Firmness: 17/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 93/100

The airfiber material (aka the main core of this mattress) doesn’t only let you move easier, but it distributes weight evenly—so you can stop waking up with back pain, every single morning. The mattress promises 100 percent spinal alignment by minimizing pressure, in addition to providing overall support at every angle. Airfiber is also breathable, allowing air to move easily throughout the mattress, which can be great for hot sleepers and those who suffer from allergies. What’s more, it’s 100 percent machine washable with unique construction and assembly. “In the box, you’ll find three core pieces (two regular airfiber blocks and one dual-mode—moderate or firm—air fiber block), the inner cover and the outer cover,” explains tester Brynn Conway. "It takes a few minutes to put the whole mattress together and [it] requires two people.”

“Honestly, the AirWeave has changed my life. For almost three years, I was convinced my back pain was just part of life," said Conway of this pick. "In just three weeks, the AirWeave has eliminated all of that. I sleep through the night ... and I wake up actually feeling well-rested."

• Mattress Materials: Polyethylene, polyester, modacrylic and glass fiber
• Mattress Thickness: 7.9 inches
• Return Policy: AirWeave requires a minimum trial period of 30 nights, where you can return your mattress within 31 to 100 days of receiving it. However, it’s worth mentioning that a $200 return service fee will be deducted from your entire refund.

Sleep Improvement: 19/20
Price: 18/20
Materials: 19/20
Firmness: 17/20
Shipping and Returns: 18/20
TOTAL: 91/100

With more than 20,000+ 5-star reviews on Amazon, plenty of sleepers are impressed by this cooling pick. This popular mattress uses a combination of pressure-relieving memory foam and high-density, cool gel memory foam to deliver 14 inches of cooling plushness. "While the gel-infused foam offers maximum ventilation (aka sweat-free nights), its high-density foam layer conforms to your body and relieves pressure points," says Editor Sydney Meister. "Not only did it have the plush, sink-into-me effect I was looking for, but it does exactly what it says: Keeps me cool all night long.”

However, Meister also notes that this mattress is on the softer side, meaning it might not be ideal for sleepers who need a little extra support. Bonus: Each mattress comes with two pillows.

• Mattress Materials: Cool gel memory foam and high-density base foam
• Mattress Thickness: 14 inches
• Return Policy: This mattress is sold and fulfilled by Amazon, so you can return it within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

Sleep Improvement: 19/20
Price: 17/20
Materials: 18/20
Firmness: 18/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 92/100

Don’t let the ‘bed-in-a-box’ label fool you—this latex mattress is made to order, which means each one is manufactured for the customer its itended for with quality and comfort in mind. It's made with layers of comfort foam and OEKO-TEX certified Dunlop latex, which are aired out in the factory to nix any would-be smells. “Upon lying on it, you get a plush feel, but you won't sink into it and have to fight your way out of bed later," says Commerce Editor Olivia Dubyak. "The meat of it is actually quite firm and supportive (which was a lovely surprise)."

You can select from a medium or firm, and if you and your partner prefer different feels, you can even choose an internal split. To that end, Dubyak also notes that the unzipping feature made this mattress a "game changer" during her move cross-country: “I was able to unzip the cover to remove a layer of the foam, which made it so much easier to get it through my very narrow doorways and hallways."

• Mattress Materials: Dunlop latex, eco-friendly foam, cotton and wool
• Mattress Thickness: 10.5 inches
• Return Policy: Nest offers a 365-night trial to return or exchange the mattress if you don't like it. However, the brand recommends using it for a full 30 days before returning it to give your body a full chance to adjust to it.

Sleep Improvement: 15/20
Price: 18/20
Materials: 17/20
Firmness: 16/20
Shipping and Returns: 15/20
TOTAL: 81/100

Made with a layer of green tea and charcoal-infused memory foam, this mattress pick is definitely unique. Both ingredients are designed to maximize your sleep comfort, with the green tea meant to keep it fresh and the charcoal blocking out moisture that would otherwise lead to undesirable odors. And while Davison didn’t really notice a difference in terms of freshness or smell, she was impressed with the mattress overall. "This mattress is really supportive, and you can toss and turn without jostling the person sleeping next to you," she adds.

Perhaps this has something to do with its thick layers of memory foam, comfort foam and high-density support foam—which, according to the manufacturer, are designed to conform to your body while providing support where you need it most. "After months of use, the foam has retained its shape—no lumps or bumps—and the quality is excellent for the price point, Davison explains, adding, "My one caveat is that it’s really firm, and as a side sleeper, I needed a mattress pad so that my hips wouldn’t ache in the middle of the night."

• Mattress Materials: Green tea-infused memory foam with a poly jacquard cover
• Mattress Thickness: 12 inches
• Return Policy: This mattress is sold and fulfilled by Amazon, so you can return it within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

Sleep Improvement: 18/20
Price: 15/20
Materials: 18/20
Firmness: 17/20
Shipping and Returns: 19/20
Total: 87/100

OK, let’s address the elephant in the room: This is one of the most expensive mattresses on this list. But if you’re comfortable with splurging, it might be worth it. Made to be firm in the middle for back support and softer at the head and feet for pressure point relief and spinal alignment, this bed is made from layers of pure New Zealand wool, 100 percent organic cotton and pocketed steel coils. Delivery and returns are free (you'll also get a 100-night trial), but be aware that it’s quite heavy. One reviewer wrote: “If I hadn’t gotten the white glove delivery service, I definitely would’ve needed to enlist the help of a friend to get this upstairs.”

• Mattress Materials: Pure New Zealand wool, 100 percent organic cotton and tempered steel coils
• Mattress Thickness: 12 inches
• Return Policy: Parachute offers free returns within its 100-night trial period, and, according to the website: "If you don’t fall in love, we’ll come pick it up for free."

Sleep Improvement: 17/20
Price: 19/20
Materials: 16/20
Firmness: 17/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 89/100

If you’re looking to buy your first mattress, Tuft & Needle is a great place to start, thanks to its affordable price and ease of assembly. “Getting a box shipped to my apartment was so clutch, given the horrors of NYC moving in general,” writes one reviewer. “I literally just cut the plastic and had a bed instantly—genius.”

As for the sleep experience, there’s a pressure relief layer of adaptive foam, with an additional layer of foam for added support. Tuft & Needle mattresses are also made with heat-wicking graphite to keep you cool. Heads up, though, that the lower price point could mean sacrificing a little quality. The reviewer notes, “The ends of the mattress are not as sturdy as many mattresses, so when you sit on the end (like maybe to put on shoes or something), it caves in.”

• Mattress Materials: Latex and gel-infused memory foam
• Mattress Thickness: 10 inches
• Return Policy: T&N offers free shipping and returns on all orders placed within its 100-night trial period.

Sleep Improvement: 15/20
Price: 17/20
Materials: 15/20
Firmness: 16/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 82/100

One shopper's experience with Leesa started out fabulously: “What I appreciated about the Leesa was the ease in ordering and setting up the mattress. Typically, mattress deliveries need to be scheduled ahead of time, but the box arrived pretty promptly in the mail, you unfolded the mattress and in a few hours (as it settled into its shape), it was ready to go.”

Each Leesa mattress has three layers of foam: Comfort (two inches), Recovery (two inches) and Support (six inches). While the bed was super comfortable at the beginning, the shopper realized that it might be better suited for short-term use or as a guest room bed. “The mattress does not hold up well over time,” she wrote. “After two years ... both my husband and [I] would roll into the center of the bed. ... It was not a durable mattress, and what started out as comfortable ended up being pretty unsupportive to sleep on."

• Mattress Materials: Polyfoam and memory foam
• Mattress Thickness: 10 inches
• Return Policy: Every Leesa mattress comes with a 100-night trial and free returns where the brand will coordinate a pickup from your home and refund your entire purchase.

Sleep Improvement: 20/20
Price: 15/20
Materials: 20/20
Safety: 20/20
Shipping and Returns: 20/20
TOTAL: 95/100

Finally, a crib mattress that had every safety feature Cristina Gutierrez, director of branded content, was looking for: “For starters, it’s breathable, made from the brand’s patented Wovenaire material, which is this 90 percent air, ten percent food-grade polymer filling that looks like a tangle of noodles," she wrote in her review.

The "breathe-thru" technology allows for the highest level of airflow so babies can breathe and sleep safely. And, in a study done by an independent third party lab, Newton was found to be 17 times more breathable than its competitors with a 97 percent lower suffocation risk (according to the manufacturer). Yet, aside from all of its (much appreciated) safety features, Gutierrez was most impressed by how this mattress got her baby to, well, sleep."I just knew she was comfortable from the very first night she slept on it. ... I watched her like a hawk through the baby monitor and she hardly moved a muscle."

• Mattress Materials: Wovenaire core is made with food-grade polymer, polyester
• Mattress Thickness: 5.5 inches
• Return Policy: Newton allows you to try the mattress for 100 nights risk-free. If you (or baby) aren't happy, simply return it at the brand's expense for a full refund.